People usually associate outside live music shows with summer, but there’s a fantastic fall outside concert series that just started last Sunday.
It’s a four week series that happens on Sunday afternoons at Blue Ridge Community Farm in Chillicothe, Illinois and I went to the first concert and it was a total blast!
Luckily I was armed with the trusty MBIP Camera, so if you missed it, just scroll along to see what you missed. The good news is that there’s three more Sunday shows, so you have plenty of time to check this local musical outside celebration. Oh…and it’s free!
Here we are at the Blue Ridge Community Farm. This is an impressive farm and it’s built to help the special needs community in the area. You can read all about this wonderful farm by clicking right here.
The concert area is just down the road ahead!
Okay, we’re here at the top of the massive grass hill that leads to the stage at the bottom.
There’s Laura, who owns this farm with her husband, Jim. Jim wasn’t around, but Laura posed with James Herr, who’s performing here today and Tim Alexander, who’s son John is also performing. Great to see all of them.
Now let’s make our way down this green and gorgeous hill to take a look at the stage at the bottom.
Wow, I love the stage! In addition to state-of-the-art equipment, there’s bales of hay, pumpkins and fresh flowers. It’s beautiful!
There’s the sign up sheet for this afternoon’s show!
Here’s the host and part of the musical line-up for this afternoon’s show, Sarah Marie Dillard, flashing a beautiful smile for the MBIP Camera!
Sarah is a huge part of Peoria’s local music scene and community. In addition to fronting her band, Sarah & The Underground, she’s created and is the host of a traveling open mic night called, “The Listening Room” A Mobile Open Mic Community, that’s become such a fun weekly musical event in Peoria. It happens every Tuesday and you can follow along on the facecrack page.
Today’s show is a Listening Room experience with a talented batch of local musicians each performing a couple of songs. Some will be original tunes and others will be cover songs. I’m looking forward to this fun and entertaining afternoon!
Sarah’s getting the stage ready as people are arriving and getting comfortable on the hill.
There’s Tim’s son John in the bottom photo rehearsing for this afternoon’s show. You’ll see more of him soon!
Okay, it’s just about that magical time of the day out here at the Blue Ridge Community Farm…it’s showtime!
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Your Host: Sarah Marie Dillard (From Sarah & The Underground)
Online Linkage: Website, facecrack and “The Listening Room” A Mobile Open Mic Community.
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James Herr Acoustic With Special Guest Sarah Marie Dillard
Online Linkage: Jake’s facecrack and Ethan’s facecrack.
What a beautiful day at Blue Ridge Community Farm! A little slice of paradise!
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Pete Wald
Online Linkage: I couldn’t find any links for Tammy E. But here’s the website for Sheila E.
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Harlan, Meister & Mitts
Online Linkage: facecrack, Website and Contemporary Art Center Of Peoria.
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River Terrace Cornerstone Church Praise Team
Online Linkage: Heart Shaped Sunglasses.
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Closing Song From Your Host: Sarah Marie Dillard (From Sarah & The Underground)
Online Linkage: Website, facecrack and “The Listening Room” A Mobile Open Mic Community.
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Jim And Laura Sniff
That was such a fun and musical afternoon! The fun thing about The Listening Room shows are the diversity of musical styles and all the different songs that you get to enjoy!
As I was leaving I ran into Laura who was with her husband Jim and I got a photo of this wonderful couple! Thanks to both of them for making this fall concert series happen!
There’s three more weeks and three more (free) Sunday concerts happening out here and you should really come out and experience this fun, musical experience. It’s like a local weekly Woodstock!
Thanks to Sarah and all of the talented musicians who entertained us for this inaugural 2024 show! A splendid time was had by all!
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21529 N. Blue Ridge Road
Chillicothe, Illinois
309-249-2499
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Related Posts: Sarah Marie Dillard Presents: The Listening Room and Shopping Locally @ the Picket Fence - Plus: The Blue Ridge Community Farm Fall Concert Series.